THE MORXIXG OREGOMAN, MOXDAT, 3IAY 2, 1910.
POKTLAXn, OREGON.
Entered jit Portland. Oregon, Fostofflce as
Eecond-Clas ALa-ttar.
Subscription Kate Invariably In "Ad-ranee.
BT MAIL.)
Dafty. Bandar Included. ons year. . .. -82
Dally, Sunday Included, mix months... 4.29
Dally. Eundur Included, three montu. . 2 25
Dally. Sunday Included, one month....
Dally, without Sunday, one year..... 6.0O
Daily, without Sunday, six month!.... ?2
Daily, without Sunday, three month!
Dally, without Sunday, one month..... .JJJ
Weekly, one year J-gg
Sunday, on year. J-"
Eur-day and weekly, one year. ..... .0
By Carrier.) -
Dally. Sunday Included, one year..... 9.00
Dally, Sunday Included, one month.... .73
How to Remit Send Fostofflce money
order, express order or personal check on
your local bank. Stamps, coin or currency
are at the sender's risk. Give postofflce ad
dress in full, including- county and state.
Postaa-e Rates 10 to 14 pares. 1 cent; 16
to 28 pages. 2 cents; SO to 40 pages, S cents:
40 to 80 pages. 4 cents. Foreign, postage
double rate.
Eastern Basin ess Office The S. C. Beck
with Special Afcency New York, rooms 48
50 Tribune building;. Chicago, rooms 010-618
Tribune building.
PORTLAND, MONDAY, MAT t. 1910.
DIRECT IXtlftLATIOX EVIL 9.
Voters of Oregon will toe confronted
with a more vexing puzzle of Initiative
and referendum measures in the elec
tion next November than ever before.
Between twenty-five and thirty ques
tions of constitutional amendment
and statutory enactment will demand
their discerning- attention. Candidates
for state offices -will occupy but small
part of the long-drawn ballot. Two
years ago the number of people's "up
lift" measures was less than a score,
and it was then thought that things
had reached the limit of public en
durance. So complicated is the outlook that
sponsors of certain "improvements"
have, been demanding suppression of
others, in order that the people may
be "protected." Tet the system guar
antees equal privilege in legislation -to
all classes of citizens. Compliance
with the law entitles all groups of
innovators to the same treatment, nor
is there any justification either in the
system or in fair play for one set of
hobtoyhorsical reforms to shut out an
other from the race for the people's
favor.
Truth is, the system is at fault. It
has cut loose from representative,
legislative government and tied up to
the method of non-deliberative legis
lation by the crowd. Agitators, who
could not press their schemes upon a
deliberative representative body of
law-makers, have free play to force
them upon the people by the initia
tive. It may be said with assurance
that not one of the twenty-odd initia
tive measures that electors will be
compelled to legislate upon next No
vember is needed by the public inter
est and that jrjbably none of the l
would pass a Legislature; yet the cer
tainty that a Legislature would reject
them is i:rged as an argument in
their favor by their respective cham
pions. Of the five acts of the Legis
lature, which that body submitted to
referendum, only one or two are
worthy of enactment and the one or
the two are fit subjects for the Legis
lature to have decided for the state
by its own lawmaking prerogative.
Six county questions, in separate
bills, must be passed upon toy the
electorate. They cannot be legislated
upon by the people of the state ac
cording to their re: pective merits, yet
the people of the state are supposed
to have the required local informa
tion. Five projected new counties are
thus clamoring for recognition, three
in Douglas County, one in Umatilla
end one in Malheur an 1 Harney. Part
of Clackamas is demanding annexa
tion to Multnomah. The three
militant districts in Douglas have
boundaries which overlap each other,
yet the people of the state are called
upon to create all three without op
portunity of curing the conflict of
boundaries or knowing what the
boundaries should be.
Normal schools are initiating bills
to revive themselves at Weston, Ash
land and Monmouth, without afford
ing electors opportunity to. select al
ternative locations that would be
more advantageous to state-wide in
terests. Labor unions are presenting
a bill to increase liability of employ
ers, without giving employers chance
to protect their interests by reason
able modification of the bill. The
U'Ren-Bourne element is presenting
four bills for radical alteration of
constitutional state and county gov
ernment, also a measure for creation
of people's inspectors and another for
payment of e-r-enses of delegates to
National conventions by taxpayers
and for selection of such delegates and
of candidates for Presidential Electors
under the direct primary law.
Here are measures that should be
enacted into law, if at all, only after
due examination and proper amend
ment In the cases of woman suf
frage and prohibition, this is not so
necessary, because these two matters
present clean-cut issues. But all the
other initiative measures are such as
only a legislative toody, that has op
portunity of modification and amend
ment, should pass upon. Yet this is
Just what their respective champions
do not wish and are seeking to avoid
through direct legislation.
The initiative and referendum In
Oregon, especially the initiative, vio
lates the. most venerable and respect
ed principles of legislation. It "is ex
posing the people of this state to the
menace of unstable .constitutional gov
ernment and to invasion of the powers
of government by cranks , and agita.
tors. The- lesson evidently will in
crease with each succeeding election.
UNIQUE STATE PAPER.
Governor Hay of Washington has
Issued a proclamation, couched in ten
der and poetic language, setting apart
Sunday, May S, 1910, as a day to toe
observed throughout the Common
wealth as "Mothers' Day." He urges
every one tj wear on that day a white
flower in token of veneration for the
one who went down into the Valley of
the Shadow that he or she might have
life, and asks all to attend church on
that day, wherein he reauests that
special services be held in honor of
motners.
This is something entirely new in
the domain of state craft. We recall
that President Garfield, immediately
after taking the oath of office as
Chief Magistrate of the Nation, turned
and tenderly kissed his aged mother
who had proudly witnessed his eleva
tion to the highest office In the gift
or the people, thus acknowledging be
fore assembled thousands ef his fel
low countrymen the drbt he owed her
for life, and for training in ways of
honorable ambition which led to his
great achievement. The country and
the nations of the world looked on.
first In surprise, then with, apprecia
tion, of this generous acknowledg
ment; and in every newspaper
throughout the land there appeared
the next day, by the side cf the pic
tured face of her stalwart son, the
gentle face framed In snowy cap frills
of Lucretia Garfield accompanied by
a torief recital of how she the widowed
mother of four boys brought them up
in ways of industry, self-respect and
honor. "
There were those and their name
was legion who recalled in. con junc
tion with the honor thus accorded to
his mother ty Jahies A. Garfield In
the hour of his supreme triumph that
Lucretia Garfield was but one of a
vast multitude of women who having
been left to discharge the double duty
of father and mother to fatherless, or
(worse than fatherless, chldren had
performed this task with energy, per
sistence and self-abnegation, not al
ways, sad to say, with success, since
sometimes their best efforts had been
outweighed by adverse conditions
and influences; but still with honest
intent and self-denying purpose. Not
all of the citizens of the great State
of Washington will accede to the re
quest of Governor Hay, but many of
them will doubtless do so. Whether
they do or not, the unique proclama
tion of his excellency w".l give them
something to think about that cannot
fail to make them better, men and
women.
PORTLAND AGAIN AT THE TOP.
With bank clearings in excess of
$46,000,000, building permits breaking
all previous records for the month
and other trade statistics in keeping,
the month Just closed has surprisingly
affirmed the Judgment of all who pre
dicted an active movement this
Spring. With the record for the
month just closed and for the three
months preceding in evidence, Port
land is now -demonstrating that at no
previous period in its history has
prosperity been so widespread and
general as in the early months of
1910. Not only have all kinds of rec
ords been shattered since the new
year opened, but the momentum
gained has been so great and the
outlook for the future is so bright
that nothing short of a record-breaking
panic throughout the entira coun
try will prevent the year's business
showing the heaviest gains ever re
corded.
This activity in Portland is but the
reflection of the conditions through
out the territory on which this city
draws Its support. Aside from the
many millions that the railroads are
spending in construction work in
Portland territory, more capital has
been brought into Oregon In the past
four months for investment in tim
ber, farm and fruit lands than has
ever been received here in any twelve
months. It is this capital, circulated
in Portland territory far beyond the
city limits, that is responsible for the
activity in Portland.
From its earliest history, Portland
has always been the commercial and
financial clearing-house for an im
mense area and the growth of the city
has always been in strict ratio with
the growth of the country. We know
toy the achievements of the past what
the future holds for this great region
of undeveloped wealth, and, as there
can toe no change in the country, that
will not he reflected in the city, Port
land will continue to grow and de
velop on a more magnificent scale
than ever before.
ADVERTISING OREGON A1TI.F.S.
Someone suggests occasionally that
the planting of orchards and the pro
duction of apples are likely to he
greatly overdone in Oregon, and that
very soon we shall reap the reward of
our rashness in demoralized Eastern
markets and greatly increased out
put there. But the apple problem
for Oregon has so far been solved by
the diminishing supply in the East
and the better knowledge everywhere
of the superior quality of the Oregon
output. The late series of frosts
throughout the Middle West, prac
tically destroying, the apple crop and
doing incalculable damage to other
fruits, is a convincing lesson for orch
ardists both there and here.
In Oregon there is no doubt about
the crop; in the Middle West and the
East there is always uncertainty.
Here you know about your yield. You
will have apples, some years more
and others 1-rss, but always apples.
There you may have them and you
may not. Here the rrethods of grow
ing axe scientific and practicable:
there they are far toel-ind In the en
forcement of laws against diseased
orchards, and there are few regions
where any orchard is safe from the
invasion of pest3 from his neighbor.
Here the whole scheme of packing
and marketing is good; there the ap
ples are sent to market any old way,
and there is very little prospect of im
provement. The East and Middle
West appear very little inclined to
learn from Oregon and the Pacific
Northwest.
The recent killing frosts in the
Mississippi Valley are the greatest ad
vertisement the stable and fruitful
Oregon orchards have had.
SPOKANE'S DISTORTED VIEW.
The Spokane Spokesman-Review,
with ' an airy disregard for facts,
charges The Oregonian with asserting
that "the- railroads simply cannot af
ford to cut down their earnings on
Spokane and other interior business."
Having constructed a man of straw by
thus distorting and, misinterpreting
The Oregonian's views on terminal
rates, the Spokane paper proceeds
to demolish it by quoting ex
tensively from the decision of
the Interstate Commerce Commis
sion in the Spokane rate case,
Figures taken from the commission's
report are provided, showing that the
entire loss to the Great Northern and
Northern Pacific, if terminal rates
had been in effect at Spokane and east
and west of that point in 1906, would
have- been slightly less than. $2,000,000.
In commenting on the earnings of the
roads, the Interstate Commerce Com
mission said: "It is impossible to
avoid the conviction that both of these
companies and there Is very little
difference between the two in this
respect have enjoyed for the last
half a dozen years, previous to June
SO, 1907, excessive earnings."
In this decision the Spokesman-Re.
view finds excuse for the broad state
ment that "here is conclusive official
authority from the most eminent ex
perts in the United States that the
railroads can easily afford to grant
terminal rates, not only to Spokane,
but also to every other town within
the broad Interior." The unbiased
reader will easily note, however, that
this conclusive official authority"
does not state that the railroads can
afford to grant "terminal rates" to
Spokane. It refrained from making
this statement for the simple reason
that any reduction in rates that might
be ordered in order to cut down the
excessive earnings would automatic
ally affect the rates at Coast terminals
where the water carriers will always
fix the rates. If Spokane were granted
what Is today the terminal rate' to
Portland it would then cease to be the
terminal rate, for Portland, in a dom
inating position with water competi
tion available, would immediately
make a newer and lower terminal
rate.
Portland objects and will continue
to object to any unfair scheme by
which these "excessive earnings" are
to be distributed in the shape of re
duced rates to interior points without
a corresponding reduction being made
at tide water where terminal rates are
made. If it were not for the tousiness
which the railroads get west of Spo
kane, and from which they would he
effectually barred by a terminal rate
at Spokane, their "excessive earnings"
would vanish so rapidly that the In
terstate Commerce Commission, would
soon be obliged to sanction higher
rates into Spokane. The Oregonian
does not desire that the railroads
should be prohibited from participat
ing in this Coast business, as they
would toe if Spokane were to be given
seaport rates without enjoying sea
port facilities. It has never stated,
and does not even know, that the
railroads "cannot afford to cut down
their earnings on Spokane and other
interior business." It does know that
whenever this cut shall he made it
will be relatively as effective at Port
land as it is at Spokane.
'.
IMPROVED ORIENTAL, SERVICE NEEDED
The steamships Beaver and Bear,
Just arrived from the builder's hands,
axe magnificent vessels, which would
be a credit to any route in the United
States. For that reason due apprecia
tion will be shown the Harriman in
terests for at last providing us with a
coastwise steamer service in keeping
with the prominence and importance
of the port. With these new liners
supplementing the Rose City, -li will
again be possible to make the sea
voyage between Portland and Ban
Francisco in safety and comfort. Now
that belated recognition of the de
mands of the port has been made in
the coastwise service, we have reason
to expect something better in the way
of an Oriental line out of this port.
The four freighters operated by the
Harriman interests between Portland
and! the Far East are all good freight
boats, but they are either insufficient
in number or they are so badly han
dled that Portland exporters and im
porters find .It Impossible to patronize
them except in emergencies. In the
month of April not a single vessel was
provided for Portland shippers who
desired to send freight to the Orient.
No -excuse could he made that the
freight was not obtainable, for not a
single vessel of the fleet of six
steamers sailing from Puget Sound in
April failed to carry consignments of
freight shipped by Portland exporters.
Nor did any of the numerous arrivals
at Puget Sound fail to bring good con
signments of Oriental freight for
Portland. This business, which is be
ing driven to Puget Sound by the in
adequate and irregular service out of
Portland, is steadily increasing, and
many of the heaviest shippers are so
incensed over the indifference with
which the matter is treated that they
now make use of the Portland line
only as a last resort. In some quar
ters there is a disposition to place the
blame for the trouble on San Fran
cisco influence, the charge being made
that a poor service is being main
tained here for the purpose of driving
business to the steamers operating out
of San Francisco. This seems hardly
possible, for the reason that the busi
ness that is driven away from Port
land by the poor service can in no
circumstances be diverted to San
Francisco.
It is simply a case of facilities being
provided here or else of sending the
business to Puget Sound. This is a
matter which will demand increasing
attention, now that the business of the
port is Increasing more rapidly than
ever, and Portland is entitled to a
service in keeping with the position
of the port.
ROOSEVELT AND THE REPUBLIC.
Mr. Roosevelt has said to crowns
and people of the Old World that re
publican government, as exhibited in
the United States, is on trial before
the world and has yet to complete the
proof of stability of popular sover
eignty and of governmental authority
limited by constitutional mandate of
the people. Yet his assertions of the
great-man principle of leadership and
his praise of self-assertive men "who
quell the storm and ride the thunder,"
together with his record at home as
an overhearing figure, have given rise
to an alleged fear this side the water
of Caesarism, Czarism, man on horse
back despotism, and Kings and
crowns.
We take it, however, that this coun.
try is not yet ready for a despotism
in the hands of Roosevelt. The warn
ing cry goes up from a lot of parti
sans of an opposing party, who see in
his political Influence an obstacle to
their wistful longings for return to
power. The cry is an old one in this
country. It has been sounded often
when a man of strong character and
leadership has been a wielder of po
litical power. Roosevelt -is such a
character and his partisan foes make
a nightmare of their disturbed repose.
It should be remembered that the
traveling Colonel has powerful oppo
nents In the United States and that
there is a delicate poise of opinions
and rivalries that can -be turned one
way or the other on election day.
Roosevelt knows this as well as any
other man. The balance is such that
it is doubtful- if Roosevelt could have
been re-elected in 1908. though in
other respects than as a candidate for
the Presidency he was the most popu
lar idol of the electorate. It is such
a balance, aaln. that would have
swung sharply against him had he not
conducted himself with the utmost
discretion and propriety in Rome.
And any usurpations of ultra-constitutional
authority while he was Pres
ident would also have turned his pop
ularity away. In short, Roosevelt's
favor with the people of this Nation
comes from his careful observance of
their political and moral precepts and
his frequent "platitudes" upon them.
No usurpations have succeeded
Roosevelt in the office of President.
Mr. Taft is adhering to the most care
ful observance of constitutional re
strictions upon the executive. The
Government at Washington still lives
in all its former obedience to the con-
stitution, except In some matters re
specting the rights of Western States
as to conservation, and none of Roose
velt's critics in the thickly peopled
East see any menace In this to the
perpetuity of dual government; in
fact, all are clamoring for extension
of conservation powers against state
authority, irrespective of Roosevelt.
This man-on-hor3eback clamor
against Roosevelt is inspired toy Demo
cratic partisanship, and nothing else.
His strong arm will be wielded in de
fense of Taft and In battle against
Democratic purposes. In partisan eyes
those purposes are the Nation's best.
Tet they have been rejected often, for
the Nation's good. Roosevelt is com
ing home the most honored and influ
ential of all Americans. He has cut
a figure In the world that redounds
to . the fame of his countrymen and
the glory of his Nation. He is prov
ing the success of popular government
by showing his respect for popular
law and sovereignty.
The annual salmon season is on at
last. There will be no further con
flict between the fishermen and the
authorities until there are more close
seasons to be observed. While the
salmon catch, in a good season such
as now seems probable, produces
nearly as much money as it ever did,
the industry is no longer the great
factor in our commercial life that it
was before lumber, fruit, dairying and
other branches of industry began to
develop on a large scale.. At the
same time it is a very important asset
and in the case of both fishermen
and packers has been the means by
which a large number of people have
risen from poverty to affluence. The
Columbia River fisherman today is of
a different class from his predecessor.
The money placed in circulation by
the industry In greater part now finds
its way into the building of homes
and In securing farms and dairy
ranches on which the fisherman can
make a good living, regardless of the
size of the salmon run.
Transatlantic steamers are again
toringing In immigrants in almost
record numhers, very few of the big
liners which . have arrived at New
York within the past month having
less than 1000 steerage passengers.
From a census standpoint, these Im
migrants are all needed, for there is
such a rush of Americans to Canada
that, without the newcomers, we
should soon show a net loss in our
population. Unfortunately, we are
losing a much better class of people
than we are gaining. The men who
are leaving this country for Canada
are going over there to develop the
country and produce something. The
men who are coming in from Europe
are huddling into the already over
crowded labor centers of the East,
where they are dependent on others
for employment. This is only one
phase of the unpleasant economic sit
uation, for- the intelligence of our de
parting citizens is vastly superior to
that of the new arrivals.
When we stop to think over the
attractions those gf eat theatrical phil
anthropists, Klaw & Erlanger, have
been furnishing Portland during the
past several years, there would really
seem to be no occasion for any par
ticular consternation from the fact
that they have severed all diplomatic
relations with our local magnates.
Just a little superfluous for th Re
publican State Central Committee of
Washington to try to read Insurgent
Poindexter out of the party.' He has
read himself out of the party. All
Poindexter wants from the Republic
ans of Washington is to be nominated
and elected United States Senator.
The pessimists continue to be
amazed that Rogue River and Hood
River fruit land should sell as high
as $2300 per acre. That is higher
than orchard land sells in the East.
Certainly. But there are no Hood
River or Rogue River orchards on any
kind of land in the EastT
If we understand Mr. O'Connor cor
rectly, the House of Lords is best pic
tured nowadays in a recumbent atti
tude with a large, healthy Irish party
on his chest and a vigorous Irish hand
at his throat. Who would be an Eng-
nsn ijora :
The President doesn't agree with
Governor Hughes on the income tax,
but he thinks that Hughes as judge
will decide the question right. Doubt
less; yet four to three Is the way the
Supreme Court usually decides right
income tax and other great questions.
Just to demonstrate that the pen
nant is not won till It is won, Portland
lost four ball games out of six to San
Francisco. But let Portland cheer up.
Other people have their troubles. Just
think of that boil on Jeffries' back.
Now that it seems to toe settled by
the census experts who didn't take
the census, toy the way, tout that's no
matter that Portland has over 200,
000 population, the way is clear for
500,000 in 1912.
The fish season opened yesterday
and everything is peaceful along the
Columbia and Its tributaries. This in
cludes the Clackamas, for which May
first rolled around Just the same as
elsewhere.
Great excitement up at Hood River
over the discovery of gold in a deposit
of gravel. Some Spltzenbergs or Yel
low Newtowns fossilized or crystal
lized and gone astray, no doubt.
No wonder Mayor McCarthy wor
ries about his forthcoming absence
fro-rr San Francisco. Ruef and
Schmitz are at large, and San Fran
cisco does love a grafter.
Binger Hermann has passed the
crisis of his illness, and will probably
recover. The people of Oregon who
wish Mr. Hermann well are as eleven
to one.
The Republicans have just carried a
town election in Port Chester, N. Y
which would seem to show that there
are still a few Republicans left.
Sixty-seven years ago today there
was something doing at Champoeg.
The peorle then ruled though the
majority was only one.
Over In Seattle the guesses as to the
census vary from 180,000 to 320,000.
The difference between fact and fic
tion. - .
Some people, very likely, were
counted several times; yet It is impos
sible to satisfy everybody.
UFB IJf THE OREGON COUNTRY I
All Their Grlem Little Ones.
Mayville Correspondent Condon- Times.
A nine-pound baby boy was born to
Mr. and Mrs. Dave Grieve Saturday
morning.
Desperate Remedy.
Stanfleld Standard.
The editor has been doing some Ir
rigation on the project this week.
Finding It next to impossible to get
help he took up shovel and went ' to
work.
On tbe Milky- Way.
Gervais Star.
Gervais Is a small town, yet one day
last week we" counted 40 cows all
bunched together on one of the main
streets. There were many more non
attending. ...
The Last Sad Rites
Heppner Times.
Billy Stewart brought in 17 young
coyotes to the County Clerk's office
Tuesday, which he reports as having
found in one nest. Before killing them
he had the bunch photographed. As
the bounty on a coyote scalp Is $1.50.
he made a very handsome clean-up for
a half day's work.
The Deadly Gopher Gun.
Dallas Observer.
John Dlehm, a farmer living in the
Salt Creek neighborhood, was acci
dentally shot in the thigh yesterday
while handling a gopher gun. Think
ing the gun was empty. Mr. Diehm
stooped to examine it. In handling the
weapon, it was accidentally discharged
and the contents struck him In the
right thigh, inflicting a painful but not
dangerous wound.
On the Fat of the Land.
Hermiston Herald.
"Where Fruit Ripens Fast" is a
slogan worthy of its name. The first
of the week the family of C. H. Cran
dall began having gooseberry pies- from
this year's berries. In most places the
bushes are scarcely more than in bloom.
Everything else is advanced in the
same proportion. All garden vege
tables are to be found fresh each day
on the tables of people who are for
tunate enough to have a piece of
ground large enough for a garden.
NON-PARTI SAN "BUNCO GAME"
Democrats Are Working; It Overtime to
Get soil Hold Ofrlce.
Baker City Herald.
What does "non-partisan" Judiciary
mean?
There Is strong reason to believe
that Will R. King, wno is now on the
Supreme Bench through the good
graces of a Democrat who was Gov
ernor and had the appointing power
at a time when a Republican Legis
lature trampled the state constitution
under foot and added two more judges
to the Supreme Bench, is the chap who
is behind this "non-partisan" rot. Will
R. King is an adroit politician. He is
next to the wily George Chamberlain
when it comes to it Democrat bam
boozling a Republican state, and ac
cording to our way of thinking King is
playing the game all the time. He
probably knows that a campaign on
the Democratic ticket would mean a
defeat for himself and he wants to re
main on the Supreme Bench. The next
best move is to raise a hue and cry
about a "non-partisan" judiciary and
while the people are agitated he will
enter the . smokehouse and carry off
the ham.
There is absolutely no reason for a
non-partisan judiciary. If a Repub
lican is too narrow to be Judge he
should not and will not be nominated.
And the same holds true of the Demo
crats. All of this "non-partisan" flim
flamming has brought Oregon into a
chaotic condition politically, and now
Will R. King and a few more would
entangle the courts in the same mess.
Give us a. Republican for Judge if he
Is all right and if we can't have a Re
publican, give us a clean-cut Demo
crat or Socialist who is not afraid to
say he Is a Democrat or Socialist and
the reason for being one.
Japan and the Rose Festival.
Tokio Daily News.
The rose trees sent from Yokohama
as a contribution to the Portland Rose
Festival made a deep and pleasant im
pression, as may be gathered from the
communications of Consul Numano
(Portland) to Count Komura. The 170
trees dispatched arrived at Portland on
February 15, the time of the celebra
tion of George Washington's birthday.
The Far East has officially recog
nized the Portland Rose Festival, says
one writer. The contribution by the
City of Yokohama of Japanese rose
plants to be set out on Rose planting
day is an incident of more than ordi
nary significance. First of all. It is
freighted with the unfailing good will
the Japanese people are wont to ex
tend to citizens of the Republic. Sec
ond, it is a token of the fame that Is
coming to Portland as a result of the
annual Festival of Roses held in this
city. Both features are of value, the
one in the reassurance of international
comity it conveys, the other in the mes
sage it carries of what the Rose Fes
tival means to Portlanders.
Wife's Name Is Now Registered First.
American Register, London.
"By the way, the old fashion of reg
istering "Mr. and Mrs. John Smith' on
one line is dying out. Of late years it
has been mostly 'John Smith on one
line and 'Mrs. John Smith' on the line
below. Now a new fashion is coming
in, whether due to ttie demand for rec
ognition on the part of Mrs. John Smith
or her husband's chivalry, I cannot
fathom.
"Many men when they register write
on the first line 'Mrs. John Smith,' and
'John Smith' on the second, while I
have seen others write on the first
line, 'Mrs. John Smith," and under it
simply 'Mr. Smith." So far I have not
seen "Mrs. John Smith and husband'
registered, though the fashion seems
to be swinging that way."
Oar moral Fiber Sound.
Chicago News.
If the United States furnishes the
most revolting spectacles of dishonesty
in public life, it is gratifying to know
that the same time the country's most
popular figure is the man who stands
pre-eminent throughout the world as
the representative of public honesty.
This fact demonstrates that the moral
fiber of the great mass of the people is
sound.
Therefore la Valueless.
Philadelphia Inquirer.
A Boston cynic complains because the
football coach gets more than the presi
dent of Harvard. This is specious. We
don't believe that the president knows
anything about the game.
No Words.
Washington Herald.
I hear ye had words with Casey."
"We had no words."
"Then nothing passed between ye?"
"Nothing but a brick."
Unpopular Invention.
Philadelphia Inquirer.
The safety hatpin has been invited.
It is safe, sane and admirable, and It
won't sell worth a continental for these
reasons.
Makes It Look Like a Piker.
Houston Post.
With T. R. blazing across- creation
Halley" comet must feel like a sick:
lightning- bug.
SEALS ARE KILLED AT PRIBILOF I
U. S. Senator Kelson Opposes Dr. Jordan
in Latter' Statement of Fsrts.
LAKE WOOD, Ohio. April 27 (To the
Editor.) In The Oregonian of April
19 you publish a communication from
Dr. David Starr Jordan, In which he
says the "land killing of fur seals on
the Islands in Bering Sea never has and
never can Injure the herd, ... and
On land no females are ever killed."
Is Dr. Jordan telling the truth? Wit
ness the following evidence, clear cut
and indisputable, that he is not: In the
Senate of the United States. March 17,
last, and while urging Immediate ac
tion on the Dixon fur-seal bill (S. I
7212), Senator Knute Nelson said: "In I
1 li .1 -J , W I . . ... . .
four Senators of the committee on ter- !
ritorles, was sent to Alaska to Investi
gate conditions in that territory. I
was a member of this sub-committee
We spent upwards of eight weeks on
the trip. Among other places we visit
ed was the Pribilof Islands, and while
we were there, we examined the seal
herds, and we saw some of the killing,
an.d before our own eyes we saw seals
killed, contrary to - the provisions of
the lease. We became convinced of
the fact that unless killing on those
islands was absolutely suspended at
once, the herd would be in a few years
totally exterminated."
What was that killing which Senator
Nelson terms in violation of the lease?
It was the discovery by him, on that
killing ground, that female seals were
being slaughtered "before our own
eyes"! He turned up carcass after car
cass fresh skinned, warm, and still
quivering which the agents of the
United States Government and the
lessees admitted were female seals!
They were compelled to admit it, by
that sturdy, honest Senator, for he had
Senators Dillingham, Burnham and
Patterson all standing as witnesses of
this crime.
What did these Senators do, when
they returned to Washington, D. C?
January 12, 1904, they submitted a re
port to the United states Senate, and
introduced a bill (S. 3355). which put
these lessees these public enemiesJ
off from the Islands. Still further,
January 21, 1904, John Hay directed a
full- account of what Senator Nelson
had discovered, as above cited, filed in
the Department of State. The accident
of death prevented Mr. Hay from ex
pelling those lessees, as he fully intend
ed to do. Root, however, agreed with
Jordan.
Comment on my part is Idle, since I
filed a similar Indictment of this work
of the lessees, with James G. Blaine,
November 19, 1890. Mr. Blaine sup
pressed it: Dr. Jordan follows In his
footsteps; but Senator Nelson is enough
for Dr. Jordan.
HENRY W. ELLIOTT.
DON'T FORGET CHAMPOEG DAY
Sixty-seventh Annlveisuu y of Meeting;
That Brought . Oregon Into Union.
PORTLAND, May 1. (To the Editor.)
Now that the census has been taken,
the patriotic people of Portland should
remember that tomorrow, Monday, will
be the 67 th anniversary of that mem
orable meeting at Champoeg, at which
Joe Meek demanded a "division" on
the vote by the 102 people present, as
to whether they were favorable to the
organization of some form of civil gov
ernment the first attempt in that di
rection west of the Rocky Mountains.
Tomorrow, the annual celebration of
that significant event will be held on
the very spot where the meeting took
place, and it should he fittingly re
membered by every citizen of Portland
who appreciates the importance of the
early efforts of the pioneers and ap
peals to all who can get away from
his or her business for the day. For
ten years these celebrations have been
held and the attendance has been very
satisfactory, but there are thousands
of Portland pioneers, native sons and
daughters among' them,' who have never
seen Champoeg. one of - the prettiest
spots in all the state. Such a day's
outing cannot be had elsewhere in
America for there is no other Willam
ette Valley. The trip the entire way is
made by boat between the lovely banks
of the "Beautiful Willamette." made
famous the world over by Sam L Simp
son's Inspiring poem, and such a trip
for a day will add. all things else being
equal, one year to the length of each
visitor's life. This of Itself should ap
peal favorably to the intelligent citizen.
There should be at least 500 of Port
land's people at the dock at Taylor
street tomorrow, Monday, morning at
6:45 o'clock, to board the steamer for
Champoeg, not only to do honor to the
departed pioneers who bullded so- well
for us, but in obedience to that well
established principle that all work and
no play will of necessity make of Jack
a dull boy.
Every individual now rushing about
his business as though the welfare of
nations depended upon what he ac
complishes in a single day, will be a
long time dead in the course of com
ing events, and a day devoted to sight
seeing in this grand old Oregon of ours
will never be missed in the "sweet
bye and bye."
There is no prettier river on earth
than the Willamette, no lovelier scen
ery than its banks afford in May, and
no worthier object, for a day, than the
payment of a just tribute to our imme
diate ancestors who "pioneered" this
Western Garden of Eden. Why not go
to Champoeg tomorrow?
T. T. GEER.
LEAVE IT ALL TO THE BLEACHERS
Why Should an "Assembly" Select Ball
Players or UmpiresT
PORTLAND. May 1. (To the Editor.)
Baseball is called the National game. Not
an lnapproprate name to one with an im
agination. The wonder is that it has not
attracted the reformative impulses of the
modern saviors of our country ere this.
Ata hot session between two gingery
teams, one has one's two political par
ties; the "ump"' or "umps" are the gov
ernment, the grandstand and the bleach
ers the people. Herein is seen the stabil
ity of our institutions wherein a man may
be a hero or a "bonehead," or both, in a
surprisingly short space of time. At the
psychological moment, any well-Inflated
fan can start a commotion that would
make the Bourneites, the U'Renites or the
reformers look like a bunch of drawling
debaters in a village merchandise store.
"Rotten, putrid, myope, thief," hurled at
the umpire, are but the echoes of many
a heated political discussion, and with
three men on bases and no one out. and
a good, smashing hitter at the bat, the
observer has a fine example of the calm
and dignified will of the people as regis
tered at the polls in a hot election.
I tell you, Mr. Editor, whenever I look
into the roaring gashes leading up from
the feet, on occasions like these. I am
proud of my countrymen. Of course all
this is human nature, but human nature
should be regulated by law. Our Na
tional game of baseball, like another of
our National games, should be brought
closer to the people. What right has a
convention or body of men to select play
ers for the people? Should not each com.
munity elect its own ballplayers? Are not
the managers and baseball associations
but servants of the people and paid by
the people? Umpires should be elected
on the principles of the primary law, and
at liberty to nominate themselves. They
should be subject to the recall and hauled
out of the game at any moment, on de
mand of the grandstand end the bleach
ers. The people should regulate the whole
business, and then the people would rule
their own pleasures.
The whole proposition is simple enough,
if some one will take time enough to write
a pamphlet on it- Free-gratis distribu
ters of free-gratis reform, please copy.
J. H. M.
CHURCH PUTS OLD CREED ASIDE
New Haven Consrrearatlonaltsta Prefe
Simple Teachlnirs of Jesus,
New York World.
Centre Church, of New Haven.
Conn., one of the oldest congregations
in America, has abrogated the Apos
tles' Creed, so far as Its confession of
faith and admission to church mem
bership are concerned.
The move, according to reports re
ceived by the pastor. Rev. Dr. Oscar
Edward Maurer. is of vital importance
to every religious denomination in tha
country. To thousands of Congrega
tlonallsts it is a radical departure. To
the congregation it is a step taken
after long consideration, debate and
prayer the most Important since the
laying of the foundation stone.
Not that the old dogmas of the creed.
which have caused so much turmoil
and discussion, are to be entirely cast
aside; they are to be placed figur
atively upon the shelf. In the litera
ture of the church they can still be
pondered by those 'whose minds are
theologically inclined. The ordinary
layman, however, may believe in the
virgin birth and the communion of
saints or not, as he pleases. All that
Is necessary to be in good standing at
old Centre la to promise he will lead
so far as possible a Christlike life.
Centre Church's commanding posi
tion is attributed as the reason for
the commotion which the matter la
causing. The church is literally the
parent of New Haven, being founded
In 1623 by the Colonial Governor Eaton
and the Rev. John Davenport, tha
Vicar of St. Stephen's Church. London.
For a half century its councils were
those of the entire colony, and no one
was even allowed to vote on political
questions unless in good standing with
the congregation. In the yard of the
church lies the dust of the Regicide
Judges, Goff, Whaley and Dlxwell, who
sought refuge in the colony from the
vengeance of Charles II. Through tha
Influence of the church came tha
founding of Yale, and for centuries
it has been one of the university bul
warks. Dr. Maurer announced he had re
ceived hundreds of letters from all over
the country, some in praise of the new
plan, others derogatory through what
Dr. Maurer declared was their misin
terpretation of the facts. To a World
reporter he said:
"We have dropped the Apostles'
Creed not because we differ from it but
because we are endeavoring to find
a more adequate statement of what
we consider the fundamental thing in
Christian faith. We are trying to
make our new confession as untech
nical as possible. A great many con
fessions, purely theological, refer al
most entirely to special interpretation
cf certain dogmas. If a man can as
sent to them he is considered worthy
of church membership. Ii not he Is,
debarred.
"In every Protestant congregation in
the land men and women in the same
pew who stand and recite the Creed
place widely different interpretations
upon it. We do not believe the Creed
voices the present religious convictions
of men. It was written for its own
age. Man today has his own concep
tions of truth based upon things that
modern science has revealed. If ha
uses old forms written for a past age
to express convictions of the present
age he will always need to adjust and
qualify and accommodate either him
self or those forms.
"Put in the only things essential to
living faith and put the emphasis on
man"s willingness and purpose to lead
a life of righteousness revealed by
Jesus Christ. Such a confession does
not prevent any man from holding per
sonal views concerning certain doc
trines which to him seem essential.
The point is that these particular
views we do not consider cardinal to
his relation with the church.
In regard to the doctrine of the
Creed,- particularly of the virgin birth
some people still believe in It lm
pliclty. Others feel that neither his
torically nor philosophically can it be
justified, nor is it necessary. I and
the deacons of my congregation be
lieve it is our duty to base our mem
bership upon a religious purpose
rather than assent to a particular and
sectarian statement of faith. Far from
making admission into the church an.
easy matter, the new emphasis upon
Christian living does much to raise tha
standards of church life."
One-Cent Letter Postage.
New York Times.
It would appear from the text o
Postmaster-General Hitchcock's latest
statement that he is contemplating
urging on Congress a general advance
in rates of postage on all second-class
matter, newspapers and periodicals,
with the argument that, by the reve
nue thus obtained, be can provide
1-cent postage for letters. The ten
dency toward a lower rate of postage
for letters has long been pronounced,
but it is not generally desired, so far
as we are able to see, that it shall ba
secured by raising other rates.
There are considerations affecting
the second-class rate that do not apply
to all the publications paying this rate,
and it would surely be wiser to dis
criminate as the facts and justice may
require than to increase the cost of all
these publications to their buyers.
Moreover, the means of reducing tha
cost of the mail service are not nearly
exhausted. The Postmaster-General
has made some progress in this direc
tion, but he has not yet gone so far
that he can reasonably propose an ad
vance in rates on one class in order to
make a reduction on another.
Building 53$ Feet High.
New York Sun.
Trowbridge & Livingston, as archi
tects for the Bankers" Trust Company,
filed plans yesterday for the big 39
story building to be erected -for tha
company on the plot at the northwest
corner of Wall and Nassau streets. It
Is to be an edifice of curious appear
ance, with granite facades, offset with
Ionio columns at the lower stories, and
rising to a full height of 639 feet above
the curb line.
It will front 94.15 feet on Wall street
and 96.11 feet on Nassau street, and tha
roof will be crowned with a great pyr
amidal tower 94 feet high, with a. dec
orated apex, the peculiarity of this
tower being that it will be entirely
without windows, the ventilation being
supplied by a vent shaft extending from
the cellar to the top of tha tower. Tha
tower will be used for tank Btorage.
Ills "HonorlflrabilltudlnouBness."'
Springfield (Mass.) Republican.
The correspondents have noted Colo
nel Roosevelt's remarkable versatility
in being able to understand the Hun
garian hurrahs for Roosevelt. But for
linguistic training there is nothing Ilka
an international honorlficabilitudinous
ness. And besides he enjoys the coach
ing of the Count and Countess Szen
chenyi. who have lately given a hand
some endowment for the promotion of
tha Hungarian language In foreign,
countries.
The Main Reason.
Providence Journal.
Local causes have had a considerable
influence in producing the impressive
series of Democratic victories this
Spring; but the common denominator
in these various manifestations' of pub
lic dissatisfaction is the high cost of
living.
And Very Human.
Baltimore American.
An observer declares President Taft
exhibited at a theater a handkerchief
with a hole in it. This is important,
if true, and will establish a strong
community of interest between him
and every married man in tha country-
r